Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-07-18
make complete history OF every patient.


the very few number of patients who
are restrained, and this is only resorted
TO for the purpose OF preventing self-in-
llUry. One feels, until his mind is disa-
bused OF this erroneous ides by actual
proof, tAat there hOvers around al insti-
tuition OF this character certain mystery,
within the inner veil Of which none bur
the officers Can enter; there ct once rises
up before our minds, which may have
been biased by certain narrowing details
IN some novel of the day, cor
poral punishment, duCkings, dark
dungeons and other fearful
means of subduing some poor unruly
patient. But let me assure THE GAZETTE
and its host OF readers that | have, not
once, but many times, gone through this
institution from cellar to garnet, and
there,is not one single thing that could
ruitl3 the feelings Of any one in this re-
gard. | have seen the most unruly
! patients, IN their worst moods, and the
plSn seemed 10 be: " Minimum Of
restraint, maximum OF kindness and for
/ bearance." TIE stIicies.i disCipline is en-
! forced upon the attendants, and any
unkind act on their part to the patients
would be followed by immediate dis
misssl. And here | would say none de-
serve better Of this state, to
none should greater praise be given.
! than 10 these men and women
who day after day spend their time in
endeavOriDg to cast some ray OF light
! through the darkness which now clouds
| the minds Of those here COuAlod. And let
no one think that any hour during the
! day is there lack Of wstchfunesS. From
/ 9 p. m. till ) g. 10. the night wAtchmen
make their rounds, going through each
! par. Of the buildings every hour, and
/ keeping record Of the same, noting shy
! patient whose condition, physical or
mental, il unusual In fact, l might say
! that system and WatChfulness are here
| the WatchWCTds-eECd one knowing mis-
duty AID so dischsTging it.
Inc culinary department forms no
small part Of the inner workings of the
asylum, The commlssaIy department
and kitchen are situated in the basement.
! The steward, whose special work is the
| purchasing Of supplies and managing the
| finances Of the institution, issues to the
chief cook whatever supplies sre needed.
All the cooking IS done by steam, fur
nished from the engines beioremeu-
toned. To enable the readers OF The
GAZETTE TO form some idea Of the IN
meEsity Of the work, l would ssy the
dai y consumption Of meat is upwards Of
700 pounds, and the bakery uses almost
three barrels of flour per diem, furnishing
as fine q qu2Iity Of BAKERS bread and bis
cult Gs one could wish. The fare
is composed OF the best the market az
fOrds, no inferior article Of sny
KIND being received. When the meals are
ready TO be served, large tin boxes, made
for the purpose, are filed with WhlLever
the meal may Consis. or, and carried 20
the various buildings on g tramWay snd
raised to the wsIds by means of dumb
walters. In each ward there is : dining
room, the attendants presiding over ana
eating With The patients. Ii Is needless
- give the fare in detail. Suffice II TO
say that the bodily wants o. tle patients
are most eXCCUently provided for. And in
this connection 1 would call attention 20
the fact that the last Legislature in its
wisdom saw ut TO reduce the apprUpria-
ton Tor this institutiOn-tO which the
state should always give Of its abundance
freely and willingly; md the
present administration deserves the
highest credit for It's ability
to economic and reduce the running eX-
penses within the meagre amount
furnished. This work above eli others
demands Of the state & liberal policy.
Let such men as compose the present
administration direct it and the state can
well afford 20 say, "s!ate your needs,
and they shall be supplied" without
the lesst fear of waste or extravaganza.
In closing this letter I can but mention
q few of DR.. DOrset's staff, who are 60
ably aiding him in his great work. His
chief assistant physician, DR.. JOIN |
Preston, is a graduate of the
University Of Virginia and Bellevue Hos
pital. He praCtiCed his profession in |
Seguin until this position was offered |
him, without any solicitation on his |
part. He brought with him reputation |
as a physician and surgeon second to |
none in the state, and his achievements |
here show that he has armed himself cap /
s-pie for his chosen life work, and no
Joint Of his armOr will ever be found |
otherwise than ready to meet the indirect !
attacks made upon it by hydra-hesded |
disease through those cOnhded TO his
professional care. DR.. Davis |
position. The host Of friends Of the |
supervisor, Mr. II. W. Walker of Cisco |
and mis- most worthy vile, the supervisor |
tSSi Will DG Sidu dLt dJ luC SAINT IlliG !
not surprised to hear that they have |
proved themselves invaluable. Untiring |
and unceasing are they in disChargiDg |
their man fold and labOriOus duties. The |
seward and bookkeeper, Mr.. H. 2. Ball |
of BOnhsm, Is but another proof of Dr. |
Dorset's ability to read men and estimate |
their worth. His responsibilities are |
many and heavy, but the ease with which |
they are borne and the absolute correct |
ness of his work to its most minute de- /
tails demonstrate his peculiar fitness |
for the work. And so | might continue !
mentioning each one by name, but space |
and time forbid. Finally let me say to |
one and all, come and see this work, |
where 500 poor unfortunates, through |
the liberslity OF our state, have obtained |
in verify a retreat from the world; and |
he will depart with s deep feeling of |
pride for this greatest OF monuments Of !
the states philanthropy. NJ.
mcGregor,
Cnop{g1 tC Gpynrtn